Producer:Steve AlbiniHe'd probably balk at being included in a list of record producers, so for the record, let's call Albini by his preferred title of "recording engineer". Marked by ferocious guitar sounds, raw and emotional recordings with little technical flourishes, Albini's work is very distinctive to the discerning listener, even amongst the wide variety of artists he's worked with (Pixies, The Wedding Present/Cinerama, PJ Harvey, Fred Schneider of the B-52's, and Nirvana). I always think of Albini's work as being organic and alive, probably because he often gets artists to play live and capture the results of the session, rather than multi-tracking. (Jim)
PJ Harvey "Rid Of Me"
Cinerama "Health & Efficiency"
The Breeders "Hellbound"
Wishful Thinking: Editors
Producer: DFAThat’s right, DFA. For some reason, everyone seems to overlook the fact that it is a team when they talk about DFA, simply attributing everything to James Murphy, รก la Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor. Tim Goldsworthy is in there, too, and may play just as important of a role as Murphy, but everyone forgets him, mostly because he doesn’t have an awesome side project. But that’s really unimportant. What’s important is why they are such great producers. Much like Kanye West, you either love or hate their style, which is very recognizable. Essentially the sole cause of disco’s re-emergence in the early 2000s, everything they have done since then has been “nu-disco.” And, again, I don’t really think that this consistency a bad thing. While some people may try and tell you that this disco sound isn’t sticking around long, you need only to notice that Echoes has hardly aged at all and how LCD Soundsystem’s self-titled debut may be one of the finest electronic albums this decade. Fuck you, disco haters. (Matt)
LCD Soundsystem "Disco Infiltrator"
The Rapture "Sister/Savior"
Wishful Thinking: The Killers
Producer: Brian EnoNot content with sharing the spotlight with another Bryan (Ferry), Eno bailed on Roxy Music after their second LP to focus on solo material and working as a producer for other musicians. Like Albini, Eno's work is marked by a highly distinctive sound, though he achieves it through a decidedly more technical approach. His ambient soundscapes influenced any number of technically driven musicians, and helped shape some of the biggest artists of the 70s (David Bowie), 80s (U2 and Talking Heads), and 90s (James). Eno is also the composer of the Windows 95 start-up sound, which, incidentally, he made on a Mac. (Jim)
James "Sometimes"
David Bowie "The Heart's Filthy Lesson"
Talking Heads "Once In A Lifetime"
Who Should Work with Next: TV On The Radio
Producer: Paul Epworth (aka Phones)I’m not going to lie to you; this guy’s on here for one reason: he is the best remix artist I have ever heard. Even if we exclude the fact that he was able to make Silent Alarm feel cold and warm at the same time; that he did wonders on The Futurehead’s vocal layering; that his tracks were the only good ones on The Rapture’s Pieces of the People We Love; and that Epic Man has some of the craziest beats this side of Clipse’s new effort, he’s still on here. All you need to hear is his remix of Death From Above 1979’s “Romantic Rights” or his try at Annie’s “Heartbeat,” and then you’d understand. (Matt)
Annie "Heartbeat [Phones Maximo Remix]"
Bloc Party "This Modern Love"
DFA 1979 "Romantic Rights [Phones Lovers Remix]"
The Futureheads "Carnival Kids
Wishful Thinking: Hot Hot Heat
Producer: Matthew FriedbergerNow, this is a tough one to figure out; there’s really very little way to tell how much of his work can be attributed to the songs he writes versus the production he does (i.e. would they sound any different with another producer, or would Matt’s songwriting still cause their sound to be the same?). While it’s tough to differentiate whether he belongs on a list of excellent songwriters (“The Songwriters,” anyone?) or producers, the answer is ultimately that he belongs on both. Though the time and melody changes that his songs are full of are likely due to his songwriting, there is no doubt that the smoothness with which they occur can be due to his production abilities; “Blueberry Boat” is roughly twenty songs in one nine minute suite that manages to avoid being even somewhat cluttered. (Matt)
Fiery Furnaces "Blueberry Boat"
Wishful Thinking: Architecture in Helsinki
Producer: Nigel Godrich...or GOD, as he's referred to by some. The "sixth member" of Radiohead may have gained wide appeal and acclaim from his production work with said band, but let it be clearly noted that Godrich's layered sound approach and magic touch have helped Beck, R.E.M., Natalie Imbruglia (can you imagine?), Travis, The Divine Comedy, Air, and, on the advice of Sir George Martin, Godrich sprinkled his magic dust on Paul McCartney's last , Chaos And Creation In the Backyard. From dense noise clouds, to atmospheric aural shapes, Godrich's instinctual and organic approach to music has made him arguably the most in-demand producer working today. Even though the "Godrich sound" clearly exists, there's not really a definitive choice for song sample here, because each one is in a class by itself; but since we have to choose, let's start with the first track he produced with his most loyal of collaborators, and go from there. (Jim)
Radiohead "Talk Show Host"
Travis "Writing To Reach You"
Beck "The Golden Age"
Paul McCartney "Fine Line"
Wishful Thinking: Stars
Producer: Martin HannettWithout him, Factory Records would have been just another hack upstart label with some flashy sleeves and an even more flashy label boss. Harsh and sparse, his sound laid the groundwork for Joy Division's short, magnificent career. Hannett's ability to manipulate instruments and create desolate, disillusioned backdrops for Ian Curtis's equally dark lyrics marked one of the greatest producer-artist pairings ever. Sadly, both Curtis and Hannett are no longer with us--Curtis hanged himself in 1980, and Hannett died of heart failure in 1991. (Jim)
Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
Wishful Thinking: Imagine what he might have done for Nirvana
Producer: Tony HofferWhile we're (sort of) on the subject of Beck (see Nigel Godrich), we should make mention of Mr. Tony Hoffer, who helped co-produce Midnite Vultures, and also went on tour with Beck as a guitarist. Hoffer is an American producer best known for his work with British bands, though. He brings an immediacy and "live" sound to the studio, and his expertise in song arrangement and orchestration can make even the dullest b-side a potential pop hit. Suede, The Kooks, The Thrills, Grandaddy, Phoenix, and Supergrass have all benefited from his knowledge and help, not to mention Belle & Sebastian, whose The Life Pursuit Hoffer produced. (Jim)
Belle & Sebastian "Act Of The Apostle"
Stars "Ageless Beauty"
The Fratellis "For The Girl"
Wishful Thinking: The Boy Least Likely To
Producer: Daniel LanoisAny self-respecting Canadian music fan will know that Lanois, one of the biggest names in music production, got his start in working-class, industrial city of Hamilton, Ontario at Grant Avenue Studios. Lanois's early credits include work for Martha & The Muffins, and any number of local upstarts trying to make a name for themselves. Fast forward a few years, and Lanois is twiddling the knobs for U2's The Unforgettable Fire, and The Joshua Tree, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabirel, Brian Eno, Robbie Roberston, Emmylou Harris and countless others. Lanois's own musical work is often sadly overlooked, but it's well worth noting. (Jim)
Daniel Lanois "The Maker"
Wishful Thinking: Rufus Wainwright
Producer: John LeckieGeorge Harrison. Paul McCartney. John & Yoko. Pink Floyd. Radiohead. The Stone Roses. Marc Bolan. The Verve. The Fall. New Order. Simple Minds. Muse. Ride. XTC. And, um, Kula Shaker. Leckie is a legend. Starting at Abbey Roads Studios as an engineer and going onto to an illustrious and prolific career as a producer in his own right. Besides production work, he still mixes and engineers. Apparently he's not the easiest of persons to get along with; Leckie walked out of sessions for The Stone Roses's Second Coming album because they were taking too long with it. Granted, it was well over five years. He's also known to have produced unreleased material for Richard Ashcroft and The La's, but why the songs never saw the light of day is still unknown. (Jim)
Radiohead "Street Spirit (Fade Out)"
The Stone Roses "I Am The Resurrection"
Kula Shaker "Hey Dude"
Wishful Thinking: Doves
Producer: Kevin ShieldsI don’t know much about what Kevin Shields has produced, to be honest. I know that he does some remixes now and again (none of which are particularly amazing) and that he did My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. Which, I may add, is particularly amazing, and the only reason he’s featured in this list. Anyone who hasn’t heard Loveless may wonder how the hell someone could get on here for one album. Anyone who has heard Loveless will not. (Matt)
My Bloody Valentine "Come In Alone"
Wishful Thinking: Deerhoof
Producer: David Andrew SitekSitek has the same problem as Friedberger – the majority of the production he does is on his own work. However, a lot more of the songwriting that Sitek does involves impressive production skills with a smattering of samples and beats. And I’ll be damned if he doesn’t know how to use them. Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes was full of stellar beats, and Return to Cookie Mountain further explored some nuts beats, as well as utilizing samples more, oftentimes creating gigantic walls of sound (“industrial armageddon”, if you will). If he can somehow top my expectations again, I may be tempted to call him this generation’s Brian Eno. (Matt)
TV on the Radio "Staring at the Sun"
TV on the Radio "I Was a Lover"
Wishful Thinking: Radiohead
Producer: Phil SpectorLet’s lay murder accusations aside for now, and take a look at arguably the best “pop” producer ever, Phil Spector. His wall-of-sound production technique (which involves a dense layering of instruments and an “orchestral” feel) not only made the bands he produced sound great, but also laid the groundwork for the shoegaze movement of the late 80s. He may be crazy, but aren’t all geniuses a little off their rocker? (Matt)
The Beatles "The Long and Winding Road"
George Harrison "My Sweet Lord"
If He Doesn't Get Life Imprisonment: The Cure
Producer: Stephen StreetOften taking a back seat to the big names he's worked with, Stephen Street's contribution to British popular music is unmistakable. Engineering Meat Is Murder and The Queen Is Dead for The Smiths led Street to the producer's seat for their final (and best) album, Strangeways, Here We Come. He later produced and co-wrote Morrissey's debut album and some of his subsequent singles before being sacked. That's okay, because from there he went on to produce Blur's Modern Life Is Rubbish and Parklife, and become one of Britpop's most pivotal, if underrated, players. We'll forgive him working with The Cranberries, and hope that he continues to help shape more great work from the likes of Kaiser Chiefs. (Jim)
The Smiths "The Death Of A Disco Dancer"
Morrissey "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys"
Blur "For Tomorrow"
Wishful Thinking: Scissor Sisters
Producer: Kanye WestLove it or hate it, Kanye West’s style is its own. You can claim that he does the same thing every time, and you’d be right. You can claim that its old, then I may have to disagree. Though Kanye has been taking classic R&B hooks (and occasionally The Doors – see “Takeover”) and speeding them up for a good five years now, it still hasn’t lost its appeal – every track he produces is better than the last, and every album he does follows the same pattern. Sure, it’s only been two, but who thought he could have topped The College Dropout in the first place? (Matt)
Jay-Z "Takeover"
Kanye West "Two Words"
Wishful Thinking: Antwan Patton (solo)
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